King Hoàn Công was reading. (He was known to be a very competent king during the Warring States in China.) His wood craftsman who was fashioning cart wheels came up to him and asked: “What is your Highness reading?”

The king replied: “I am reading up on the sages’ teachings.”

“Are they still alive?”

“No, they are all dead.”​“Then, your Highness is only picking up rejects!”